When I’m teaching a group of women, and I say, “The Bible is a book about God,” I expect eyes to roll, because, well…. Isn’t it obvious? Yes, it is obvious, which begs the question: Why, then, do we read the Bible as if it’s all about us?
We open it to our favorite parts and ignore the parts that are “hard.”
We read a verse or even a chapter, and immediately jump to application without a thought about the original audience or the author’s intent.
We take fortune cookie verses out of context and probe them for secret messages to go along with our morning caffeine boost.
If we read the Bible’s many stories as one coherent story about God, we have to kick ourselves out of the center of the universe and discover the sacred text as a story that begins with God’s creative work and humanity’s rebellion. We have to view everything after this as God’s action to redeem what was lost—to make “everything sad… come untrue.” Witnessing this work of restoration, we see God’s great purpose for his people. He is building a kingdom, and our calling to participate in that work gives meaning to everything we do.
When we read the Bible and teach the Bible like a chopped-up slide presentation instead of a panoramic screenplay, we lose touch with the metanarrative that connects the Old and New Testaments. We ignore the love story that supports our identity as God’s people, given the privilege of putting his glory on display in the 21st century in our family, church, and community.
If we read the Bible’s many stories as one coherent story about God, we have to kick ourselves out of the center of the universe and discover the sacred text as a story that begins with God’s creative work and humanity’s rebellion.
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Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson guides readers through the Bible’s one big story, capturing our imagination with rich storytelling and skillful biblical theology that point to a coherent portrait of Christ.
The first twenty-six chapters dive into the often unfamiliar and intimidating characters and events of the Old Testament. “We can see the gospel in the Garden of Eden, up the Tower of Babel, on Mounts Ararat and Sinai, in the songs of David and the proverbs of Solomon…,” and that’s a gift we might not have opened and received without Wilson’s guidance. “Each shard of gospel light brings a fresh perspective to the whole, and enlarges our vision of what God has done and who he is.”
The thirty-one chapters on the New Testament draw together the gospel threads woven through the Old Testament and untangle theological knots introduced in the epistles. We see the importance of Jesus’s being fully human and yet fully God. We begin to understand that the Old Testament blood bath in the Temple pointed to the ministry of our Great High Priest who sacrificed himself, rose from the dead, and continues to intercede for us.
The early church’s announcement that the kingdom of God is at hand was great news—and it’s an invitation to holy awe when we realize it was the same message Isaiah preached hundreds of years earlier. Gospel Stories provides insight into the greatest story. As a companion for personal devotions or a resource for families, it reinforces the reader’s love for the Main Character of the Bible and our hope in all that he has promised.
Holding You in the Light,
Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson (@10ofthose) provides insight into the greatest story, reinforcing the reader’s love for the Main Character of the Bible and our hope in all that he has promised.
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I’ve Got a New Devotional Plan Ready for You
Grief comes to everyone sooner or later, and whether it’s the death of a loved one or the loss of some cherished aspect of our life or identity, God’s Word is crucial for grieving well. Past hurts have a habit of snagging our hearts in unexpected moments, but God provides abundant grace to help the believer move through grief without getting stuck and without wasting the opportunity to walk more closely with the Lord who lightens our darkness.
As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to all the reading plans!
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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, which means that whenever you purchase a book I’ve shared here through the link I provide, I’ll receive a very small commission. It doesn’t cost you more, and I only share books here that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Many thanks to 10 Publishing for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
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